No Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi As Pakistan Pick Shadab Khan As Captain For Afghanistan T20Is

13.03.2023 - 14:13 sports.ndtv.com

Senior Pakistan cricketers, including captain Babar Azam and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, have been rested for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, beginning in Sharjah on March 24.

The Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) national selection committee has also not included opener Muhammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and veteran batter Fakhar Zaman in the squad to be led by all-rounder Shadab Khan.

Four new faces -- fast bowlers Ihsanullah, Zaman Khan and batters Tayyab Tahir and Saim Ayub -- have been included along with sidelined players Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim. "I have spoken to Babar, Rizwan, Haris, Shaheen and Fakhar and taken them into confidence about the fact that we are using this series as a testing ground to try out new players and recall some of those who have performed well in the PSL (Pakistan Super League)," said chairman of the PCB management committee Najam Sethi on Monday.

Sethi said the seniors needed rest and added their place in the side was secure. "Their places are confirmed in the team and we have given them genuine rest.

cricket as Shaheen Afridi Babar Azam Shaheen Shah Afridi Afghanistan Pakistan

England pacer James Anderson expressed his disappointment after Pakistan captain Babar Azam was overlooked during the Hundred draft last week. During the Hundred draft last week, 30 men's cricketers were picked across the eight teams and overall 64 players were picked up across the men's and women's categories. While Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf were picked by Welsh Fire, Babar went unsold, having entered the draft with a reserve price of 100,000 british pounds (approx. Rs 8.2 lakh).

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